A BARNSLEY farmer has landed a prestigious role as an audiobook actor – reading the story based on his family’s own farm.
Richard Nicholson, of Cannon Hall Farm, Barnsley is the eldest brother of the Nicholson family – known for their appearances on Channel 5 TV Show Springtime on the Farm. 
And, from March 31, he will add another feather to his cap – as an official audiobook voice actor.
Penguin Books are publishing Springtime at Cannon Hall Farm, in hardback, on March 31 in major retailers from Asda to Amazon – and the editors in London had shortlisted a prestigious line-up of famous voice actors to put their tones to the retelling of the families adventures throughout Springtimes old and new.
Up against actors who had appeared in Downton Abbey, Silent Witness, Doctor Who and Gentleman Jack, Richard threw his hat into the ring and asked to audition. 
He said: “It was quite daunting as they could have very easily turned around and said it wasn’t any good. But I have been told throughout the years I have a good voice for story telling and it was something I really wanted to do. Being the story based on my own family made it all the more special.”
Richard had to send off audition tapes and go for a sound test at a prestigious recording studio in Manchester – then faced a nail-biting wait before finally being told he had got the job.
He spent days in the studio reading over 300 pages of his family story. He added: “I was really proud to be able to share the story this way. I really hope that having an authentic voice, not just authentic but a family voice too, adds weight to the story and listeners enjoy reading all about our escapades. It was great fun – I especially enjoyed reading the story about when my Grandma woke up with David’s missing snake on her head.”